USA > Missouri > Pike County > The history of Pike County, Missouri : an encyclopedia of useful information, and a compendium of actual facts > Part 33
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ASHLEY.
per, now of Jacksonville, Illinois, and of Philander Draper, still living in Lonisiana, but confined to his bed on account of the infirmities of age and injuries sustained long since.
Among the farmers at an early day about Ashley were Thomas Kern, Thomas Allison, Elliott Holliday, Elisha Lewis, James Orr, P. B. Bell, W. Kerr, John W. Neff, John Crow, who had the honor of building the court-house in 1844, and whose widow still lives near Ashley, one of the two or three women who first settled here; William MePike, David Wilson, E. L. Bryant, L. M. Wells, N. S. Gillum; Moses Hendricks, Abram Pritchett, Samuel Pfarr, Thomas D. Sonth, and Wilbarger. Ac- cording to the account of Barzel Riggs, who left Jessamine county, Ken- tueky, in 1836, and came to Missouri the same year, settling at Ashley in 1837, there is no lady here now that was here then except Mrs. Patsy Kerr, the widow of William Kerr, who laid out the town. Mrs. Crow, the wife of John Crow, however, must have been here, or came soon after the laying out of the town. She is still living and remarkably well preserved for a lady of about ninety. On the same authority it is stated that no male citizen is here now that was present in 1837 save Barzel Riggs and his son Am- brose. Mr. Riggs, when he came, bought ont one Branham, who was keep- ing a saddler shop, and went into the business himself, occupying the same building. His son Ambrose succeeded his father in the business and is still engaged in the same trade.
THE MILL.
Perhaps the most important enterprise in the town, aside from Watson Seminary, is the milling interest. The first mill was built by Purse & Staley in 1843, and was run a number of years very successfully by Corker & Ochel- tree. About the year 1854 this mill was rebuilt by Hickman & Purse, and sold by them to Bell & Sisson about 1862. In 1865 Bell sold his interest to Judge S. S. Russell, when the firm was known as Russell & Sisson, by whom it was operated until May, 1878, when it was destroyed by fire. The loss was about $10,000, and covered, unfortunately, by no insurance. It was not characteristic, however, of one having the energy and perseverance of Judge Russell to abandon the enterprise. Accordingly, the mill was immediately rebuilt, and put into operation in October of. the year 1878, by Russell & Sons, by whom it is at this time operated. Its capacity is abont 150 bushels per day. Every year there is ground about 25,000 bush- els for custom; besides, an equal amount of merchant work is done.
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
The following summary will serve to give the reader a correct idea of the extent and character of the business that is carried on in Ashley:
M. T. Griggs, B. J. Bowen, John Melike, and Bryant & Brother are a .! engaged in general merchandising; Purse & Wells have a hardware store. W. T. Burks, a boot and shoe store; John Brown, a drug store; N. Gib ...... also a drug store; Russell & Sons, a steam flouring-mill; M. W. Houston. boot and shoe shop; Mrs. Glaze & Sister, a millinery store; Miss Sharp .. also a millinery store; George Poyser, a butcher shop; R. A. Strother, a fer niture store; A. D. Riggs, a harness and saddle shop; Moore & Rivier, s. blacksmith shop; John A. Murphy, a wagon and blacksmith shop; H. E. & T. J. Elmore, a saw and carding-mill; A. Oden, a chair factory; West Butler and C. Burnett, livery stables; William Dawson, a hotel; Mrs. C. A. Clement, a boarding-house.
KNIGHTS OF HONOR.
Ashley Lodge No. 2606, was instituted November 12, 1881, under dispen- sation from the Grand Lodge of Missouri, by S. P. Griffith, District Deputy Grand Dictator, with the following charter members:
M. T. Griggs, T. J. Elmore, J. W. Bryant, William Wood, A. D. Poyser, J. M. Riggs. A. R. Tinsley, J. W. King, J. C. Wells, A. W. Smith, E. W. Russell, John N. Russell, J. E. Kight, J. E. Rees, Charles Burnett, Chas. W. Parker, George Straube, and J. L. Elmore. The following were the first officers elected: J. L. Elmore, dictator; M. T. Griggs, past dictator: E. W. Russell, vice-dictator; C. W. Parker, assistant dictator; A. W. Smith. chaplain; J. E. Rees, guide; J. W. Bryant, reporter; T. J. Elmore, finan- cial reporter; A. D. Poysen, treasurer; J. N. Russell, guardian; C. R. Bur- nett, sentinel; P. G. Nichols, medical examiner; J. L. Elmore, M. T. Griggs. and J. W. Bryant, trustees, and J. L. Elmore, deputy grand dictator. The lodge was organized at Masouic Hall, and continued to meet there until January, 1885, when Orr & Gogg's Hall was seenred for five years, and is now the place of meeting. From the beginning this lodge has had pleasant and prof. itable meetings, and still enjoys a good degree of prosperity. The member- ship has increased from eighteen to twenty-eight. There have been no · deaths since the organization. The present officers are: W. B. Bryant, die- tator; A. D. Poyser, vice-dictator; J. M. Riggs, assistant dictator; J. W. King, chaplain; Theo. Purse, reporter; T. J. Ehnore, financial reporter: M. T. Griggs, treasurer; J. C. Wells, guide; J. E. Kight, guardian; John Russell, sentinel.
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821
ASHLEY.
BETHESDA CHURCH-CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN.
This old church has a remarkable history, and met so long ago that it is difficult to determine just when it was organized. It is not likely that any church edifice was then in existence, to serve as a place of meeting. Not even " Old Siloam," or the " Old Republican Meeting-house" had an existence as yet. The probability is that this congregation was organized at the house of John Crow. Fortunately the records, which are still extant, are explicit as to the time, and read thus:
"STATE OF MISSOURI, 1
"COUNTY OF PKE. S
"We, whose names are undersigned, professing to be followers of Christ, and feeling ourselves attached to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, ap- proving of their confession of faith and church discipline, and being under the care of the McGee presbytery, in the bounds of the Salt River district, do agree to form ourselves into a church, called Bethesda, on the waters of North Cuivre, including the members south of prairie, in Pike county.
"Agreed to on the 4th day of September, 1826."
John Crow and Mary Crow were present at the organization, as were doubtless a number more. The following were members prior to 1829:
Robert Orr, William Wylie, Polly Wylie, Charles Cox, Polly Barnett, Polly Orr, Salina Barnett, Patty Hoss, Barnett HI. Lovelace, Pleasant Cox, . John B. Cox, Hugh Barnett, James Orr, Elizabeth Orr, Phil. Orr, Bathena Henderson, Frances Orr, and Temperance Cox.
1832 -- Jacob Lemons, Ann Lemons, Nancy Crostwait, C. D. Henderson, Mahala IIenderson, Thomas Kerr, Susan Kerr, Carter Lovelace, P. J. Love- lace, Dan MeAlister, Mary McAlister, Elizabeth Crow, Jacob Crow, Mary F. Orr, Polly Hutchinson, Mary Henderson (sold), and Rhoda Orr (sold).
1836 -- Martha W. Lovelace and Eliza Johnson.
1843-Eliza Orr.
1844-George Marzolf and Maria Marzolf.
1848-Henry Owings, Salina Owings, Virginia M. Allison, and Elizabeth Kerr.
1831- Mary J. Bryant and Margaret MePike.
1852-Susan Draper and Gabriel N. Orr.
The total membership in February of 1859, according to the records, was thirty, but by October 1 of the following year it had reached fifty-four. Near the close of the year 1804 it rose to seventy-three, and three years later, June 2, 1867, the climax in membership was reached, the roll show- ing a list of eighty members. From this time there was a falling off unti!
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
1870, when the roll again shows a membership of eighty. During the list twelve years the average membership has been about fifty, the present ro !! showing fifty-two.
The old minutes show that in September, 1838, Philip Orr and Barnet! II. Lovelace were elected elders and ordained according to the established rules of the church. Thomas Kerr at the same time was ordained by Rev. Samuel Pfarr.
The continuity of the records is broken in 1838, and there is a gap unti! 1833. Up to 1838, B. H. Lovelace, from the beginning, seems to have been the clerk, and was very faithful in the discharge of his duties. Upon his resignation Thomas Kerr became his successor, but as he left the bounds of the church in 1841, the records were either neglected or lost for a time, and it is not until 1853, when the first clerk again took charge of the records. that we are able to furnish anything reliable touching the history of this old church.
The Bethesda congregation met October 1, 1853, at Ashley, in the brick church, which was at that time a common resort for all religions denomina- tions. Two additional elders, John Neff and James N. Orr, were ordained by Rev. J. W. Campbell: In March, 1864, James W. Kerr was ordained elder by the same. The resignation of B. H. Lovelace as clerk occurred . September 14, 1867, when he was succeeded by Benjamin F. Birkhead.
At the fall presbytery of 1867, by petition of the Bethesda congregation, its name was changed to that of Ashley congregation.
On the 7th of February, 1870, Benjamin F. Birkhead and J. W. Bartlett were ordained elders, and J. W. Campbell was serving as pastor. Mr. Birk- head now resigned the clerkship, and Thomas J. Elmore became his suc- cessor, and still continues to discharge the functions of this office in the most satisfactory manner. keeping records rarely equaled for neatness and accuracy. In May, 1872, M. T. Griggs and W. G. Kerr became elders.
This congregation now, in connection with that of the Christian Church, worships in what is known in Ashley as the Union church, a neat frame edifice, that comfortably seats an audience of 300, and is about 35x50 in its dimensions. It was built at a cost of about $1,800, in the year 1860. For many years prior to the building of this church, the congregation worshiped in 1
THE OLD REPUBLICAN MEETING-HOUSE,
a quaint old building of logs, still remembered by the old settlers; but, as far back as 1829, it was new and as yet unfinished, with its stone chimney built half way up, and awaiting the remaining processes of evolution, while
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ASHLEY.
the intervening spaces between the logs constituting the walls, as yet had no " chinking and daubing," thus affording outsiders conveniences scarcely inferior to those within. It was at this time that A. Oden, of Ashley, still living, might have been seen peering through the cracks, according to his own story, while Rev. J. W. Campbell (Uncle Jimmie) was occupying the pulpit, clothed not with his surplice, but clad in a " blue jeans coat," reach- ing to a point near the knees.
The ground on which this republican meeting-house once stood, free to all denominations, is at this time the common city of the silent dead, whose tombs now stand where the strains of music and the flights of eloquence once charined the living. For more reasons than one, then, this cemetery is on hallowed ground, marking the place where souls were born into the spiritual kingdom. and also the place in which their bodies are awaiting the final resurrection of the just.
CHRISTIAN CHURCHI.
The Christian Church was organized September 24, 1859, by Elders J. J. Errett and William Mason. The members originally were the following: E. L. Bryant, Hezekiah Oden, Alfred Oden, Jolin Daniel, James B. Ar- nold, D. W. Arnold, L. A. Bryant, W. B. Bryant, E. W. Crutcher, Emily Strother, Frances Oden, Eliza A. Oden, Mary A. Bryant, Martha J. Purse, Nancy Hickman, Nancy E. Arnold, Sallie E. Crutcher, and Maria McPike.
Since the organization one hundred and three names have been enrolled, but at this time there remain only eight male and fourteen female mem- bers in good standing, the rest having died, moved away, or severed their connection with the church. The elders at the organization were S. A. Bryant, W. B. Bryant, and A. Oden, and these still serve in the same ca- pacity. The deacons are C. C. Cash and George Bryant. This congrega- tion worships in the Union church, in connection with the Cumberland Presbyterians, as stated elsewhere.
OLD SCHOOL PRESBYTERIAN CHURON AT ASHLEY.
During the month of July, 1829, a number of persons met at what was then known as the republican meeting house, the name indicating that the use of the house was free to all as it had been built by the united efforts of all the neighbors. The building was of logs and stood on the left of the road as you approach Ashley from the south, abont the center of the old graveyard on the road, and was used for purposes of worship as late as the summer of 1848. The meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Presbyterian Church. The country at that time being sparsely settled, some had to travel by horseback or on foot several miles in order to be present, but this was no obstacle to the hardy pioneers who settled this county. Among the goodly number present, the following named persons joined in a request to be organized inton Presbyterian Church; viz., Messrs. William Days, Samuel Baird, Greenlee Hays, James Baird, and also Mrr. Catharine Hays, Miss Hannah Ann Hays, Mrs. Sarah Baird, and Mrs. Sarah L. Findley, from the Stanfords Church, Kentucky. and Mrs. Martha J. Kerr from the church of Stanton, Virginia, whereupon the Revs. William S. Lacy, assisted by Rev. Samuel Findley of Kentucky, proceeded to organ- ize them in due form, they taking the name of the Waverly Church, by which name the church was known until 1855, when the name was changed to that of Ashley Old School Presbyterian Church. Soon after the organi- zation, the congregation built a hewed log house in the woods about three miles southeast of Ashley, and although they were unable to complete the house they continned to use it for a house of worship for a number of years and they finally abandoned it, and moved to Louisville in Lincoln county, where they had services as often as they could procure a minister, having at that time no regular supply. Rev. J. B. Poage having taken up his resi- dence in Ashley 1855, the presbytery of Palmyra, on his motion, authorized the removal of the place of worship to Ashley. Of those present at the or- ganization, there is but oue living, Mrs. Margaret J. (Kerr) Elmore, who lives about one and one-half miles west of Ashley, where she lived at that time, fifty-three years ago, and where she has continued to reside ever since. Of the early members of the church there is living at the present time Mrs. Martha B. Allison, a sister of Mrs. Elmore, who joined the church March 27, 1830; Mrs. Mary Oden, who joined Nov. 25, 1832, and . Mr. Osborne N. Coffee, who joined June 10, 1832. The roll of membership contains the names of 276 persons who have been enrolled as members of this church. There are at this time about seventy-five members holding connection with the church. Rev. T. P. Walton is minister in charge at this writing. Officers: P. B. Bell, S. S. Russell, J. C. Wells, and Dr. J. F. Hanna, ruling elders; and W. S. Lowry, W. J. Sissen, and A. D. Riggs. deacons. The congregation has a nice commodions church building, built in 1870 by the members and friends of the church and completed without a dollar of indebt- edness, in which they have preaching regularly two sabbaths in the month. sabbath-school every Sunday, and prayer meeting once a week.
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825
ASHLEY.
THE M. E. CHURCH SOUTH.
The building in which they worship was built in the summer of 1848, finished during the following winter, opened for publie worship in March, 1849, and was the first church building ever completed in Ashley. It was built on Jand belonging to William Kerr, on the south side of town and by him deeded on March 20, 1859, to James W. Thomas, Robert Riggs, Jesse Henton, John Henton, Nathan S. Gillum, and William Henton, trustees of the M. E. Church Sonth, with the proviso, "that when not ocenpied by their ministers or congregation, it should be free to the ministers and con- gregation of the M. E. Church. The house was built mainly through the efforts of William Kerr, the citizens generally contributing liberally to as- sist him. For many years the church was used by all denominations, this seeming to be an era of peace and good will among Christians in Ash- ley. The negroes having had the privilege of assembling for worship in the church while slaves naturally claimed the same privilege after they became free. For a time this privilege was granted them, but complaint being made to the trustees that they were abusing the house and leaving it very dirty, they (the trustees) locked the door on them and refused to per- mit them to occupy the house. That portion of the colored people who held connection with the M. E. Church elaimed the right to occupy the house under the proviso of the deed alluded to. This claim led to a contest between the parties in the cirenit conrt, his honor Judge G. Porter sustain- ing their claim and restoring to them the right to worship in the church when not ocenpied by the M. E. Church South.
This decision swelled the hearts of the " darkies" with joy and pride, in consequence of which they prayed louder and sang more lustily than ever before, feeling that the " good Lord " was on their side. This contest nat- nrally gave rise to some bitterness of feeling between the litigants, and soon the honse was closed by the aforenamed trustees or their successors for re- pairs. In making the necessary repairs a debt of some $300 was incurred, for which the trustees gave a note secured by mortgage, as they were an- thorized to do by the terms of the deed. The honse was again opened for worship and occupied as it formerly had been. In the meantime the note became due, the mortgage was foreclosed, the house sold under the mort- gage and bought by John F. Wight, who had furnished the money to make the repairs, and the darkies were again turned ont. The citizens being called upon, responded liberally, and assisted the congregation of the M. E. Church South to pay Mr. Wight's debt, and he, by deed, bearing date August 22, 1874, again conveyed the property to W. P. Burks, A. D. Nally. Reuben 52
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
A. Strother, Ivy Zminwalt, John T. Morris, A. A. Newland, and James II. Wight, trustees of the M. E. Church South. Since that time they have been dwelling in peace with no shadow crossing their path, and none to molest or make them afraid, for which they, too, thank the good Lord.
OLD SILOAM CHURCH (BAPTIST).
Perhaps no church in the country enjoys a more romantic history than that of " Old Siloam," as it is now familiarly termed to distinguish it from two other churches, both of more recent date and both having sprung from the same source.
The church edifice was a "meeting-honse" that stood on lands then owned by James Moore, near where the Holliday brothers now reside, be_ tween Hartford and Ashley. Those who worshiped here were known as United Baptists, and the congregation at first included a number of Chris- tians (Campbellites). This was more than a decade before the separation took place between what are now known as the Regular Baptists and the Missionary Baptists.
Materials are still at hand for an authentic history of this church as far back as 1832, the date of the oldest records now extant, and which were carefully examined recently at the house of Moses Farmer in Indian town- ship, who is their custodian. These records do not, however, furnish any clew to the date of the organization, or to the authorities that officiated. Rev. W. Davis, an aged minister of the Regular Baptist Church, residing in Ashley, thinks that Darius Bembridge and Davis Biggs were the officials in question. The oldest minutes on record have the signature of Davis Biggs as moderator, which goes to corroborate the statement, as the church cer- tainly does not long antedate the year 1832, and hence Davis Biggs was likely present at the organization.
The first page of the old record referred to alludes to a schism in the church between the Baptists and the Campbellites in these words:
"The church met, and after consultation agree that, as many difficulties have arisen among us, principally from what we call Campbellism, we agree to separate ourselves from those members who have embraced those views, and agree to live together as a church at Siloam meeting-house under our old constitution.
" D. BIGGS, Moderator.
"GEORGE CREWS, Clerk."
Ministers .- The church remained under the care of Elder D. Biggs until May, 1835, when Elder Ephraim Davis was called to the pastoral care of
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ASIILEY.
the church. He remained in charge until September, 1837, when Elder W. Davis, now of Ashley, assumed pastoral control and has ever since sustained the same relation to what is known as the Regular or Old School Baptists. On account of the infirmities of age the preaching is now mainly done by younger men laboring under his supervision. This was the congregation that now worships at the Siloam church, and is the third of the same name.
Meeting-house .- For aught we know the " meeting-house" mentioned may have been a private residence, but used for church purposes, for the records describe a church whose erection was contemplated in 1845. It was to " be 40x20, walls eight logs above the floor." The trustees to superintend the building were Willis H. Brown, L. Moore. James Moore, and John Sonth.
It was in September, 1838, that Amos Beck was ordained. Two years later the difficulties began that resulted in a permanent division of the church. About this time occurred the unceremonious salutation that Amos Beck received from the owner of the ground, who, though not a church member, was bent on controlling the premises, with the church erected thereon, in the interests of the Missionary Baptists. Litigation even ensued, and finally, through defect in the title to the land, or for some other reason the Regular Baptists lost control.
The Division .- In the spring of 1840 the permanent division of the church took place, and ever since each branch has perpetuated a separate and independent organization. At this time Siloam, Spencer's Creek, Beth- lebem, and Bryant's Churches withdrew from the Salt River Association, on account of differences tonching missions, ete.
Lest, unwittingly, injustice might be done to either branch of the original church we will quote the language of the record as to the points of dissent, which is as follows:
" WHEREAS, It is with deep regret and heartfelt sorrow that we have wit- nessed the great strides that are being made by the various religions denom- inations in the world to introduce into the church innovations which are calculated to aların the true followers of the meek and lowly Jesus, inas- much as they are not authorized by Holy Writ as a church appendage. They come to us in the shape of societies by the following names, to-wit: Tem- perance, Missionary, Tract, Sunday-Schools, Abolitionist, and various others out of which we have no hesitation in believing will grow materials calcu- lated in their nature to sap the foundations of our civil and religious liber- ties .* * * Therefore,
Resolved, That inasmuch as there has not been any public action in the
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HISTORY OF PIKE COUNTY.
Salt River Association on the subject above recited, and therefore it is not known who is for or against these things, we would respectfully and in the bonds of love invite all our sister churches composing that body to take up the subject and examine it, and if they feel to foster the seeds of discord and confusion we shall have to separate, but we hope better things of our breth- * ren.
The above, together with other resolutions of similar import in the form of a letter, were sent to the several churches of the Salt River Association, and their provisions were rejected by all the churches save the three already mentioned, which, in connection with that of Siloam, formed themselves into the (Cuivre) Siloam Association of Regular Baptists.
The Siloam Church now, as governed by the majority, having withdrawn from the association, and a number of members still refusing to sever their connection with it, complaint was made in September, 1840. by Elder Amos Beck.
This matter came before the church in the following October for trial and resulted in the excommunication of fourteen members, who for a time maintained themselves " on original ground " as the Siloam Church, accord- ing to their view of the matter, and finally formed the nucleus in 1851, of the Missionary Baptist Church called Indian Creek.
For the present we take leave of this wing of the church to follow the fortunes of the Regular Baptists, who, upon losing the old Siloam building and the grounds on which it stood, took with them the "church book," " articles of faith," and "rules of decorum," determined to build them- selves another Siloam, and there preach and defend the old faith.
As early as 1843 arrangements were made for a log meeting-honse ou the waters of North Cuivre, on the left side of the road leading from Ashley to New Hartford, but a few rods from the point at which the road crosses the stream. The grounds having been secured. an arbor for summer use was erected on them pending the building of the editice in contemplation. Some of the older settlers still have a vivid recollection of the meetings held under the branches of trees that screened them from the scorching sun.
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